Translation: Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Rev. 14:13. Here rests in peace formerly Johann Georg Schum, born 5 August in the year 1777, died the15 September 1846, at the age of 69 years, 1 month and 10 days.

A metal plaque behind the tombstone reads:

John George Schumm
Born Aug. 4, 1777 in
Ruppertshofen, Germany
Died Sept. 15, 1846 in
Schumm, Ohio
Settled in Schumm, Ohio in 1838

Johann Georg Schumm was born on 4 August 1777 in Ruppertshofen, Württemberg, the son of John Georg and Anna Margarete (Franz) Schumm. [1] His German birth record gives his date of birth as 4 August so the tombstone is incorrect.

Johann Georg Schumm married Anna Maria Fisher on 28 April 1807 in Ruppertshofen, Württemberg. Anna Maria was born on 3 Mar 1779 in Ruppertshofen and died there on 5 Feb 1822.

Johann Georg Schumm, with four of his sons and a daughter, left from the port of Hamburg in mid-April of 1833, bound for America. They sailed on the Brig Zelia and arrived at the Port of Philadelphia on 3 June 1833. The Johann Georg Schumm family, as listed on the ship’s passenger list: John G Schum, age 55; John F, 19; George M, 20; John J, 17; Georg L, 16, and Maria C, 23. [2]

Once they were in America the Schumms traveled to and resided for several years near Winesburg in Holmes County, Ohio. Since most immigrants traveled to where relatives, friends and neighbors had already settled, the Schumms undoubtedly knew some of the families that were already living in the Holmes County area.

The little village of Winesburg was settled by German Lutheran immigrants and the Schumms worshiped with them. Several of Johnann Georg Schumm’s children were married at Winesburg during this time: Maria Katherina married Michael Schüller in 1833 [3]; George Martin married Maria Pflüger in 1838 [4]; Johann Friedrich married Magdalena Meyer in 1838 [5]; George Ludwig married Maria Barbara Pflüger in 1840 [6]. Johann Jacob married Hannah Boyer in 1839 in Van Wert County. [7]

Four years after arriving in America Johnann Georg Schumm visited the Van Wert County area. At that time the US government was encouraging westward migration and land cost as little as $1.25/acre. He liked the area east of Willshire and decided to move his family there.

On 26 April 1837 Johann Georg applied for three US land patents and his sons George Martin and Friedrich each applied for a land patent, all in Van Wert County. They paid a total of $1000 for the five quarter sections, amounting to 800 acres, in whiat is now the area of Schumm. The final land certificates were signed by President Martin Van Buren and dated 10 October 1840. [8]

It looks like the Schumms wanted to make sure that each of the five immigrant children had at least 160 acres of land. Johann Georg may have purchased the 3 quarter sections for his three children that could not purchase the land themselves. The two older sons, George Martin and Friedrich, were over 21 years of age in 1837 and could legally purchase land themselves. Katherina, married to Michael Schüler, would not have been able to purchase land because married women at that time were not legally permitted to purchase or own land. Son Ludwig was not 21 years of age in 1837 and would not have been legally allowed to purchase land. Eventually each of the Schumm children or their heirs had a tract of land in the area.

According to the records at Zion Schumm, the Schumms arrived in Van Wert County on 7 June 1838. It appears some of them traveled to and from Van Wert County and Holmes County during the years 1838-1840, since some of them were married in Holmes County during that time period.

Johann Georg died of typhus on 15 September 1846 at the age of 69 years, 1 month, and 10 days. He and his four sons were instrumental in establishing Zion Lutheran Church at Schumm and the town of Schumm. Unfortunately Johann George died three days before the first constitution of Zion Lutheran Church was adopted.

Johann Georg and Anna Maria (Fisher) Schumm had the following children:

10 March 1840:
Friedrich purchased the 160 acres in Section 26 from his father for $200 (Van Wert Deeds, Vol E:280).
George Martin purchased the 160 in Section 27 from his father for $200 (Van Wert Deeds, Vol E:282).

John Jacob received the 160 acres in Section 23 from his father (Van Wert Deeds, Vol E:183, Vol F:448).
The Schüller heirs eventually owned land in the NE ¼ of Section 22.
Lewis eventually owned the SE ¼ of Section 22.

6 comments

5 quarter sections!!! That is a lot of land for just a few households to clear and farm with horses! How many Amish families work that much land even today, even with the aid of English machines and hired help?

Karen

I am a double cousin to you through the Schumm family as I descend from the son of Johann George who was Johann Friederich and then my gggrandfather Georg P Reidenbach was married to your ggggrandmother, Eva Pflueger. (Not sure if I have the greats correct.)

It is interesting to see that you are a certified genealogist. I have been working on our family genealogy for almost 30 years on & off plus my husband’s for nearly as long. What is involved to be certified? I started doing research before you could use the internet.

Yes, we certainly are related! The Schumm/Reidenbach/Pflueger connection is interesting. We may have to share information. I may have some questions about the Reidenbachs. I will refer you to the Board for Certification of Genealogists website, http://www.bcgcertification.org for information and instructions on becoming a board certified genealogist. Their website gives you all that information. It is challenging and I learned a lot during the process. Thanks for writing!

Karen Miller Bennett, CG

Greetings from the Chattanooga, Ohio, area. "Chatt" is a small village in west-central Ohio and I grew up near there. I am a Board-certified genealogist, registrar of the Lima Chapter NSDAR, and a past trustee, officer, and committee chair of The Ohio Genealogical Society. My main interests are cemetery research, German research, lineage societies, technology, and the west-central Ohio and east-central Indiana areas. I am also a Registered Dental Hygienist. Look for a variety of blog subjects, from genealogy to my other interests of music, reading, bird watching, gardening, and dentistry.